1932 Marmon Prototype HCM V-12

2001 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

You could almost hear the death rattle at Marmon by 1931, but the firm tried to reverse its fortunes with a new line of cars powered by a V-12. The engine in this prototype was developed by sawing four cylinders out of the company's famous 15-degree V-16 and welding it back together. Everything else was similarly shortened, a new crank and cam were milled, and it was up and running. The rear suspension was a new design featuring four half-elliptic transverse leaf springs mounted to a narrow central chassis. The almost unibody two-door sedan coachwork was designed by Dorwin Teague, who at 91 years old was present. He had never seen the finished car before this weekend, as the company folded that year.